Acquiring Regions of Remote Shared Content with High Resolution

ABSTRACT

Presented herein are techniques to enable a meeting participant/attendee at a first endpoint device in an online/web-based meeting/conference to acquire shared content with high resolution. The first endpoint device receives an initial image of content shared by a second endpoint in the online/web-based meeting/conference. At the first endpoint, the initial image of the shared content is displayed. A user selection of a selected region of the initial image is received at the first endpoint, and a second image of the shared content corresponding to the selected region is received at the first endpoint, wherein the second image has a higher resolution than the initial image.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to shared content in on-line conferencesessions.

BACKGROUND

High resolution computer displays are now common. In on-line/web-basedmeetings in which a party with a high resolution display shares desktopcontent with another participant having a lower resolution display(e.g., a small mobile phone, laptop, small terminal monitor), currenton-line meeting systems typically fit the shared content to a windowwithin the other participant's display by reducing the image resolution.As a result, the other participant may not be able to discern relevantdetails, and often must request that the sharing party zoom in on theshared content or increase its font size. In addition, if the otherparticipant wishes to capture a screenshot of the shared content, theresolution of the screenshot is limited to the resolution of the imageshown on that participant's display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system in which computingdevices are connected to facilitate a conference session between thedevices, including desktop sharing from one device to one or more otherdevices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example computing device configured tooperate as an attendee device in the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example computing device configured tooperate as a server in the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of example operations performed by an attendeedevice to acquire regions of shared content with higher resolution inaccordance with embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 depicts an example screenshot image of shared content on a hostdisplay and an image of the shared content rendered with lowerresolution to fit within a smaller/lower resolution attendee devicedisplay.

FIG. 6 depicts an example screenshot image of graphical user interfaceelements configured to simulate magnification of a selected region ofshared content according to the techniques presented herein.

FIG. 7 depicts an example screenshot image showing a manner of acquiringan image of shared content corresponding to a region selected via amagnifier operation in which an attendee device acquires improvedresolution image data for a part of the shared content corresponding toa selected region.

FIG. 8 depicts an example screenshot image showing a manner of acquiringan image of shared content corresponding to a region selected via amagnifier operation in which an attendee device acquires improvedresolution image data for the whole or entirety of the shared content.

FIG. 9 depicts an example screenshot image showing a manner of acquiringan image of shared content corresponding to a region selected via amagnifier operation in which an attendee device acquires improvedresolution image data via a server.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a system in which attendee devices receiveinitial image data from a first server and higher resolution data from asecond server.

FIG. 11 depicts an example screenshot image showing a selection of aregion of shared content for image capture according to the techniquespresented herein.

FIG. 12 depicts an example screenshot image of content captured from aremote display.

FIG. 13 depicts an example screenshot image showing an example manner ofacquiring higher resolution content for a region including a mask color.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Overview

Presented herein are techniques to enable a meeting participant/attendeeat a first endpoint device in an online/web-based meeting/conference toacquire shared content with higher resolution. The first endpoint devicereceives an initial image of content shared by a second endpoint in theonline/web-based meeting/conference. At the first endpoint, the initialimage of the shared content is displayed. A user selection of a selectedregion of the initial image is received at the first endpoint, and asecond image of the shared content corresponding to the selected regionis received at the first endpoint, wherein the second image has a higherresolution than the initial image.

Example Embodiments

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an example system 100 that facilitatesconference sessions between two or more computing devices, where aconference session may include sharing of desktop content displayed byone computing device with other computing devices of the system. Aconference session can be any suitable communication session (e.g.,instant messaging, video conferencing, web or other on-lineconferencing/meeting, remote log-in and control of one computing deviceby another computing device, etc.) in which audio, video, document,screen image and/or any other type of content is shared between two ormore computing devices. Shared content may include a desktop sharing, inwhich a computing device shares its desktop content (e.g., opendocuments, video content, images and/or any other content that iscurrently displayed by the computing device sharing the content) withother computing devices in a real-time collaboration session. In otherwords, desktop sharing during a collaboration session allows othercomputing devices to receive and display the content that is beingdisplayed at the computing device sharing such content.

System 100 includes a plurality of endpoint devices, including a hostdevice 110 and one or more attendee devices 120. The endpoint devicesmay communicate with each other and/or one or more servers 130 overnetwork 115. A single server 130 is shown for simplicity. The endpointdevices may take a variety of forms, including a desktop computer,laptop computer, mobile/cellular phone, tablet computer, etc. Network115 may include one or more wired and/or wireless local and/or wide areanetworks. Host device 110 is an endpoint device from which content(e.g., a desktop, application, document, etc.) is being shared withmeeting attendees at attendee devices 120.

While the embodiment of FIG. 1 is described in the context of aclient/server system where the server 130 is used to receive contentfrom the host device 110 for redistribution to one or more attendeedevices 120, it is noted that content sharing and acquisition of sharedcontent with high resolution utilizing the techniques described hereinare not limited to client/server systems but instead are applicable toany content sharing that can occur between two computing devices (e.g.,content sharing directly between two computing devices).

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example attendee device 120. Theattendee device includes a processor 32, network interface unit 33,display unit 34, keyboard/mouse 35, and audio speakers 36, eachconnected to a bus 37. Network interface unit 33 is a network interfacecard (NIC), for example, that enables network communications on behalfof the attendee device. Attendee device 120 includes a memory 38 thatstores or is encoded with software for execution by processor 32 andstores data received and generated in the course of operation of theattendee device. Memory 38 may comprise read only memory (ROM), randomaccess memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media devices, opticalstorage media devices, flash memory devices, electrical, optical, orother physical/tangible memory storage devices. The processor 32 is, forexample, a microprocessor or microcontroller that executes instructionsfor acquiring shared content in an online conference. Thus, in general,memory 38 may comprise one or more tangible (non-transitory) computerreadable storage media (e.g., a memory device) encoded with softwarecomprising computer executable instructions, and when the software isexecuted (by processor 32) it is operable to perform the operationsdescribed herein for attendee device 120.

In particular, memory 38 of attendee device 120 stores meeting clientsoftware 200, initial image data 212, and higher resolution image data214, as depicted in FIG. 2. Meeting client software 200 includes a userinterface module 202 and a region acquisition module 204. Meeting clientsoftware 200 enables the attendee device 120 to participate in an onlinemeeting/conference in which a host device shares content (e.g., adesktop, application, document, etc.). User interface module 202 handlesthe presentation of the shared content at the attendee device 120,including graphical user interface elements, visual display of theshared content on display 34, and optionally output of audio on speakers36. Initial image data 212 corresponds to an image of the shared contentwith an initial resolution. Higher resolution image data 214 correspondsto an image of some or all of the shared content with improvedresolution compared to the initial resolution, as will become apparentfrom the following description. Region acquisition module 204 isresponsible for handling operations at the attendee device 120 describedbelow to acquire higher resolution data covering a selected region ofthe shared content (e.g., determining local coordinates of a selectedregion, calculating relative coordinates, sending notifications andrequests, receiving and processing high resolution image data, etc.).

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an example server 130 that mayparticipate in the techniques presented herein. Server 130 may beimplemented by a computer system in a similar manner as an endpointdevice. For example, server 130 includes a processor 132 and networkinterface unit 133, each connected to a bus 137. Server 130 alsoincludes a memory 138 that stores or is encoded with software forexecution by processor 132 and stores data received and generated in thecourse of operation of the server as described herein. In particular,memory 138 of server 130 stores meeting server software 300 and includesimage data cache 310. Meeting server software 300 enables the server 130to deliver shared content from the host to attendee endpoints in anonline conference/meeting. The meeting server software 300 includes aregion delivery module 304 to process requests from an attendee devicefor improved resolution image data corresponding to a region of theshared content.

Host device 110 may be implemented in a similar manner to attendeedevice 120, and, in some embodiments, may further include meeting serversoftware 300 and/or region delivery module 304 residing within memoryfor execution by a processor of the host device. This variation isparticularly useful to support a peer-to-peer communication session.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 as well as the subsequent figures thatprovide examples of outcomes of operations depicted in FIG. 4. FIG. 4shows a flow chart of example operations performed by an attendee deviceto acquire regions of shared content with higher resolution. Theoperations shown in FIG. 4 may be performed when processor 32 executesthe software instructions for region acquisition module 204 at anattendee device that is participating in an online meeting in whichcontent is being shared.

At step 410, an attendee device 120 receives initial image data 212(FIG. 2) for an initial image corresponding to content shared by hostdevice 110. For example, the host device may include a display and sharea desktop shown on this display with the attendee devices. The imageshown on the host display is referred to as the “real image.” Datacorresponding to the real image is referred to as “raw image data.” Rawimage data generally has little or no lossy compression. An attendeedevice may receive data corresponding to an image of the desktop havinglower resolution (e.g., spatial resolution and/or color resolution) thanthe real image. For example, the image may be subject to a greaterdegree of lossy compression than the raw image data to reduce the impacton network traffic, to deliver the image faster, or because the attendeedevice has a smaller or lower resolution display.

At step 420, attendee device 120 displays the initial image of theshared content. The attendee device may display an initial image of ashared desktop having lower resolution than the real image in order tofit the shared content within a smaller or lower resolution display orwindow of the attendee device. FIG. 5 shows an example real image 510displayed at a host device, and an initial image 520 fit to the displayof an attendee device.

Returning to FIG. 4, at step 430, the attendee selects a region of thedisplayed initial image 520 at attendee device 120 (e.g., via userinterface module 202), and at step 440, the attendee device receives animage of the selected region of shared content having higher resolutionthan the initial image (e.g., by way of operation of the regionacquisition module 204). For example, one aspect of an embodimentenables the attendee to emulate magnification of a region of the initialimage. The attendee device displays a graphical user interface elementconfigured to simulate magnification of the selected region and receivesimage data corresponding to the resolution of the real image for an areaincluding the selected region. The attendee device displays themagnified selected region with a resolution higher than the initialimage (e.g., a resolution equal to that of the real image). In anotherform, the attendee is enabled to define or select a region of theinitial image to capture for higher resolution; and in response, theattendee devices receives and locally stores an image of the selectedregion having higher resolution than the initial image.

FIG. 6 depicts example graphical user interface elements configured tosimulate magnification of a selected region of shared content accordingto the techniques presented herein. The scenario depicted in FIG. 6 isused in subsequent figures and consequently certain reference numeralsfrom FIG. 6 are repeated in subsequent figures. The graphical userinterface elements shown in FIG. 6 may be used by an attendee/user atstep 430 (FIG. 4). Specifically, the graphical user interface elementsmay include a magnifier element 610. The attendee may position themagnifier element over any area of the initial image 520 (FIG. 5) of theshared content rendered on the attendee device display to select aregion 630 to view more clearly or in greater detail. An improvedresolution image 650 of the selected region may be displayed in viewingarea 640. The improved resolution image has a resolution greater thanthat of the initial image (e.g., the resolution of the real image). Theattendee may configure the magnification, the shape and size of themagnifier element 610, and consequently the shape and size of theviewing area. Alternatively, the magnification may be based on the ratioof the host device's resolution to attendee device's resolution. Themagnifier operation may be used on a personal computer and on a smallscreen device (e.g., mobile device, tablet, etc.). In a mobile devicewith a touch screen interface, the magnifier operation may be triggeredwith a relatively long/sustained press of a user's finger(s) on thetouch screen.

FIG. 7 depicts one manner of acquiring an image of shared contentcorresponding to a region selected via a magnifier operation. Thisapproach is referred to as “part mode” and is based on acquiringimproved resolution image data corresponding to part of the sharedcontent. This approach is described initially, by way of example, withrespect to an embodiment in which host device 110 includes a regiondelivery module 304 and communicates with attendee device 120 over thenetwork directly or mediated via a server 130.

At 701, the attendee locates the magnifier element 610 over a region ofthe initial image of the shared content displayed on the attendee deviceto define the selected region 630. Region acquisition module 204calculates the relative coordinates values of the selected region. Forexample, the selected region may be defined by four corners of arectangle, where the relative coordinates of a corner are the distancefrom the top of the image and left edge of the image as a fraction ofthe image height and width, respectively.

At 702, the attendee device 120 sends the relative coordinate values tothe host device 110 with a request for improved resolution image data.The region delivery module 304 receives the relative coordinate valuesand obtains data corresponding to a higher resolution image of theregion defined by the relative coordinates. For example, the regiondelivery module 304 may obtain raw image data by capturing the realimage of the region 710 of the host device display defined by therelative coordinates.

At 703, the region delivery module sends the improved image data (e.g.,raw image data) corresponding to the selected region to the requestingattendee device. The attendee device receives the improved resolutionimage data and renders an improved resolution image 650 of the selectedregion in viewing area 640.

FIG. 8 depicts another manner of acquiring an image of shared contentcorresponding to a region selected via a magnifier operation. Thisapproach is referred to as “whole mode” and is based on acquiringimproved resolution image data corresponding to a whole or entire imageof the shared content.

An attendee invokes the magnifier element and begins to position themagnifier element over the initial image. In response, at 801, themeeting client software sends a notification to the host device. Thehost device receives the notification and at 802 sends higher resolutionimage data 214 (FIG. 2) for the whole shared content to the attendeedevice. The attendee receives the data and caches it in memory. Whilethe attendee is using the magnifier element, the host device sendschanges to the higher resolution image of the shared content to theattendee device in real time. At 803, the region acquisition moduledetermines the selected region at the attendee device and calculates therelative coordinate values of the selected region. At 804, the regionacquisition module uses the relative coordinate values to retrieve datacorresponding to the selected region from the cached higher resolutionimage data. At 805, this data is used to render an improved resolutionimage 650 of the selected region in the viewing area 640.

FIG. 9 depicts yet another manner of acquiring an image of sharedcontent corresponding to a region selected via a magnifier operation.This approach is referred to as “server mode” and includes the use ofserver 130 to receive image data from a host device and distribute imagedata to one or more attendee devices. At 901, the attendee devicedetermines the location of the selected region in its display andcalculates relative coordinate values for this region. At 902, theattendee device sends a notification to the host device that an attendeehas started the magnifier operation. At 903, the host device receivesthe notification. In response, the host device sends raw image datacorresponding to the whole screen to the server. The server receives theraw image data and caches the raw image data in memory, e.g., in imagedata cache 310 (FIG. 3). Subsequently, the host device sends the server130 updates to the raw data corresponding to changes to the sharedcontent; this may help to reduce data traffic between the host andserver. At 904, the attendee device sends the relative coordinate valuesto the server. The server 130 receives the relative coordinate valuesand reads raw data for the region defined by the relative coordinatesfrom the image data cache. At 905, the server sends the raw data for theregion to the attendee device. The attendee device receives the raw dataand renders an improved resolution image 650 in the viewing area 640based on the received raw data.

Thus, in server mode, the host device sends one copy of the raw imagedata to the server. Attendee devices using the magnifier operationreceive raw data from server rather than the directly from the host.This reduces the load on the host device and places the load on aserver, which may have greater processing power and input/output rate.

Part mode and whole mode represent complementary approaches to acquiringimproved resolution image data at an attendee device. Part modetypically transfers less data than would be transferred in the wholemode, but may incur a lag in response when an attendee moves themagnifier element to select a new region, whereas, in whole mode, theresponse to movement of the magnifier element is faster once theattendee device has cached data for the whole improved resolution image.Either or both approaches may be used in conjunction with server mode.In one form, both whole mode and part mode may be implemented, and auser may choose which mode to use. In another form, the meeting clientor server may dynamically combine use of each mode to improve the userexperience based on the system configuration and/or performance.

The system may include any number of servers 130 implementing anycombination of operations. For example, FIG. 10 depicts an embodimentwith two servers supporting two data channels. Compressed data channel1010 is used to transfer initial, reduced resolution image data for theshared content from the host device 110 to attendee devices 120 viaserver 130 a, while raw data channel 1020 is used to transfer raw imagedata for the shared content from the host device to attendee devices viaserver 130 b for use with the magnifier operation. This may improve thespeed with which an attendee device receives initial and higherresolution image data, and thereby improve the responsiveness of themagnifier operation for the user.

Another technique to improve the responsiveness of the magnifieroperation for the user in a system with slow network performance is datatransitioning. According to this technique, the attendee device mayfirst render an image of the selected region in the viewing area basedon the initial image data. The attendee device may re-render the viewingarea upon receiving higher resolution image data.

According to still another embodiment, an attendee is enabled to selecta region of an initial image of shared content displayed on the attendeedevice and capture an improved resolution image of the region.Conventional screen capture tools capture the local screen and arelimited to the local display's resolution. As a result, the capturedimage may appear fuzzy, particularly if viewed under zoom ormagnification. In contrast, the techniques presented herein enable anattendee to capture an image with higher resolution than the initialimage by acquiring raw image data.

An example scenario for capturing a region of a remote image accordingto the techniques presented herein is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. At1101, an attendee begins a “capture remote screen” operation (e.g., viaselecting an operation via user interface module 202). The attendeeselects (e.g., using a mouse, stylus, gesture, etc.) a region 1110 ofthe initial image to be captured. The region acquisition module 204determines relative coordinates of the selected region. At 1102, theregion acquisition module sends the relative coordinate values to theregion delivery module (executing within, e.g., server 130 or host 110).The region delivery module receives the relative coordinate values andretrieves raw image data for the region, shown at 1120, defined by therelatively coordinate values. For example, the host may capture screendata for the image 1130 within the region 1120 defined by the relativecoordinates, or the server may retrieve corresponding raw image datafrom its image data cache. At 1103, the region delivery module sends theraw image data to the attendee device. The region acquisition modulereceives the raw image data and saves the data as a captured screenimage. Thus a captured image 1210 may show greater detail or claritythan the initial image, particularly if viewed under zoom ormagnification, as illustrated in FIG. 12. Alternatively, the regionacquisition module may capture an image based on the initial image dataunder particular circumstances (e.g., if the network is slow or unstableand the user has configured the region acquisition module to do so),although the resulting captured image may have reduce resolution.

In summary, as depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12, a user is enabled to capturean image of the remote screen, which may have higher resolution than thelocal screen. The initial image displayed on the local screen may bebased on data subject to lossy compression, while the captured image isnot compressed or compressed with less loss of information.

If the display of the host device and the display of the attendee devicehave different aspect ratios, the meeting client software may fill anunused portion of the attendee device display with a mask color. When anattendee selects a region of the local display (e.g., to magnify orcapture), the selected region may include a section of the screen filledwith the mask color in addition to the initial image of the sharedcontent.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example scenario for acquiring higher resolutionimage data and use of a mask. At 1301, an attendee begins an operationto acquire higher resolution image data, e.g., to capture remote screenimage data. The attendee selects a region that covers the initial imageof the shared content 520 and mask color 1310. The region acquisitionmodule determines relative coordinate values for the section of theregion containing shared content and the section of the regioncontaining mask color. At 1302, the meeting client software sends therelative coordinate values of the section containing shared content tothe region delivery module (which may reside in a server or hostdevice). The region delivery module retrieves improved resolution imagedata for the region defined by the relative coordinates (e.g., capturesan image from the host device screen or reads raw image data from theimage data cache). At 1303, the region delivery module sends theimproved resolution image data to the attendee device. The regionacquisition module receives the data, and creates a new logical image1320 using the received data and mask color in proportion to thesections of shared content and mask color determined at 1301. At 1304,the region acquisition module saves the new logical image as a capturedscreen image.

In summary, the techniques presented herein enable acquiring regions ofremote shared content with high resolution. For example, a meetingattendee may acquire an image of a shared desktop without lossycompression or compressed with less loss of information. Two aspects ofan embodiment include a magnifier operation and a remote screen captureoperation. The magnifier operation may be used, e.g., to view finespatial detail and color of the shared content. The remote screencapture operation enables an attendee to save a clear image of sharedcontent.

In method form, a method is provided comprising: at a first endpointparticipating in an online conference, receiving an initial image ofcontent shared by a second endpoint in the online conference; at thefirst endpoint, displaying the initial image of the shared content;receiving a user selection of a selected region of the initial image atthe first endpoint; and at the first endpoint, receiving a second imageof the shared content corresponding to the selected region, wherein thesecond image has a higher resolution than the initial image.

Further, one or more computer readable storage media are provided thatare encoded with software comprising computer executable instructionsand when the software is executed operable to: at a first endpointparticipating in an online conference, receive an initial image ofcontent shared by a second endpoint in the online conference; at thefirst endpoint, display the initial image of the shared content; receivea user selection of a selected region of the initial image at the firstendpoint; and at the first endpoint, receive a second image of theshared content corresponding to the selected region, wherein the secondimage has a higher resolution than the initial image.

Moreover, an apparatus is provided comprising: a network interface unitconfigured to enable communications for a first endpoint participatingin an online conference over a network; and a processor coupled to thenetwork interface unit, wherein the processor is configured to: receivean initial image of content shared by a second endpoint in the onlineconference; display the initial image of the shared content; receive auser selection of a selected region of the initial image at the firstendpoint; and receive a second image of the shared content correspondingto the selected region, wherein the second image has a higher resolutionthan the initial image.

The above description is intended by way of example only.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: at a first endpointparticipating in an online conference, receiving an initial image ofcontent shared by a second endpoint in the online conference; at thefirst endpoint, displaying the initial image of the shared content;receiving a user selection of a selected region of the initial image atthe first endpoint; and at the first endpoint, receiving a second imageof the shared content corresponding to the selected region, wherein thesecond image has a higher resolution than the initial image.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein receiving the user selection comprisesdisplaying a graphical user interface element configured to simulatemagnification of the selected region, and further comprising displayingthe magnified selected region with a resolution based on the secondimage.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: at the firstendpoint, receiving changes to the second image corresponding to changesto the shared content at the second endpoint; and updating the displayof the magnified selected region based on the received changes to thesecond image.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the initial image andthe second image data are received via separate network channels.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein receiving the user selection comprisesdisplaying a graphical interface user area element for selecting an areaof the initial image, and receiving a second image of the shared contentcorresponding to the selected region comprises storing a persistent copyof the second image at the first endpoint.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the initial image is produced by lossy compression, and whereinreceiving the user selection comprises: determining relative coordinatesof the selected region with respect to the first image; sending therelative coordinates from the first endpoint to a meeting server; andwherein receiving the second image comprises receiving the second imagefrom the meeting server.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving thesecond image of the shared content comprises receiving image data for aregion larger than the selected region.
 8. One or more computer readablestorage media encoded with software comprising computer executableinstructions and when the software is executed operable to: at a firstendpoint participating in an online conference, receive an initial imageof content shared by a second endpoint in the online conference; at thefirst endpoint, display the initial image of the shared content; receivea user selection of a selected region of the initial image at the firstendpoint; and at the first endpoint, receive a second image of theshared content corresponding to the selected region, wherein the secondimage has a higher resolution than the initial image.
 9. The computerreadable storage media of claim 8, wherein the instructions operable toreceive the user selection comprise instructions operable to display agraphical user interface element configured to simulate magnification ofthe selected region, and further comprising instructions operable todisplay the magnified selected region with a resolution based on thesecond image.
 10. The computer readable storage media of claim 9,further comprising instructions operable to: at the first endpoint,receive changes to the second image corresponding to changes to theshared content at the second endpoint; and update the display of themagnified selected region based on the received changes to the secondimage.
 11. The computer readable storage media of claim 9, wherein theinitial image and the second image data are received via separatenetwork channels.
 12. The computer readable storage media of claim 8,wherein the instructions operable to receive the user selection compriseinstructions operable to display a graphical interface user area elementto enabler a user to select an area of the initial image, and theinstructions operable to receive a second image of the shared contentcorresponding to the selected region comprises instructions operable tostore a persistent copy of the second image at the first endpoint. 13.The computer readable storage media of claim 8, wherein the initialimage is produced by lossy compression, and wherein the instructionsoperable to receive the user selection comprise instructions operableto: determine relative coordinates of the selected region with respectto the first image; send the relative coordinates from the firstendpoint to a meeting server; and wherein the instructions operable toreceive the second image comprise instructions operable to receive thesecond image from the meeting server.
 14. The computer readable storagemedia of claim 8, wherein the instructions operable to receive thesecond image of the shared content comprises instructions operable toreceive image data for a region larger than the selected region.
 15. Anapparatus comprising: a network interface unit configured to enablecommunications for a first endpoint participating in an onlineconference over a network; and a processor coupled to the networkinterface unit, wherein the processor is configured to: receive aninitial image of content shared by a second endpoint in the onlineconference; display the initial image of the shared content; receive auser selection of a selected region of the initial image at the firstendpoint; and receive a second image of the shared content correspondingto the selected region, wherein the second image has a higher resolutionthan the initial image.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein theprocessor is configured to receive the user selection by to displayingdata for a graphical user interface element configured to simulatemagnification of the selected region, and to display the magnifiedselected region with a resolution based on the second image.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to: receivechanges to the second image corresponding to changes to the sharedcontent at the second endpoint; and update the display of the magnifiedselected region based on the received changes to the second image. 18.The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured toreceive the initial image and the second image data via separate networkchannels, via the network interface unit.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15,wherein the processor is configured to generate data to display agraphical interface user area element to enable a user to select an areaof the initial image, and to receive a second image of the sharedcontent corresponding to the selected region by storing a persistentcopy of the second image at the first endpoint.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the initial image is produced by lossy compression,and wherein the processor is configured to receive the user selectionby: determining relative coordinates of the selected region with respectto the first image; sending the relative coordinates from the firstendpoint to a meeting server; and receiving the second image from themeeting server.